Original Italian WWI Benaglia Rifle Grenade with Rod - Inert

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a rare example of the WWI Italian Benaglia rifle grenade, actually a rod grenade. The rod grenade was patented by an Englishman named Frederick Marten Hale, an employee of the Cotton Powder Company at Faversham in Kent, in November 1909. Unfortunately, in practice, the rod grenade turned out to be an impractical weapon of dubious accuracy that caused stress on the rifle barrel, and which soon necessitated special rifles dedicated to the role, an additional cost hardly envisaged when they were introduced. Like all deactivated ordnance, this grenade is Not Available for Export.

The Benaglia was a cast iron grenade designed to be fired from the Carcano M1891 rifle and introduced into the Italian Army in 1916. Several variants of this grenade were used during the second half of the war. The most common variant will have metal fins attached, or in the Gussi variant, the fins are replaced by a wooden plug. This is a later variation with just one screw at the top instead of two.

The entire grenade measures 11½” long with the rod being 7¼” on its own. This example is in great condition and was not ground-dug like most of these are. A very scarce grenade to find in any condition. Comes ready for further research and display.